Resign with Grace, Return with Fire Chapter 21
Meanwhile, David gave Lester the beating of a lifetime and pulled his investment again. He cursed the latter as a useless disappointment and kicked him out of the house.
It was only then that everyone learned that Lester was an illegitimate child. He’d done all of this just to prove himself and make his father take him seriously, but it had all backfired.
Lester tried to go back to Sandra, but she didn’t want him, either. She fired him.
When I heard all this, I could only think that this was what they deserved. They were reaping what they had
sown.
I thought it was all over; I didn’t expect Sandra to have the nerve to show up at my company.
That day, I had just gotten off work when I saw Sandra waiting for me at the company’s entrance. Her eyes lit up when she saw me come out, and she moved to pull me toward her car.
“You’re off work, Fred? I’ll drive you home.”
I glanced at the big bobblehead doll placed on the passenger seat. It was Lester’s usual trick-he would give Sandra little trinkets and make these tokens of their bond clutter up our life. This doll in the car was one such trinket, and the spider plant at home was another.
Lester’s presence had long soaked into my life with Sandra. I could see traces of him everywhere. He was like a fishbone stuck in my throat. I couldn’t spit it out, yet I couldn’t swallow it either. It just constantly irritated me.
If this were before, seeing the doll would’ve driven me mad with jealousy. But now, I only felt bored. My tone stayed flat and devoid of emotion as I said, “Don’t bother. I can take a cab. The passenger seat is basically Lester’s reserved spot. You should leave it for him.”
Sandra followed my gaze, finally noticing the doll. Her expression turned panicked; she immediately yanked the doll out and tossed it into a curbside trash can.
Then, she watched my face carefully, her tone picking up a nervous note that was almost fawning. “It’s my fault, Fred. I wasn’t paying attention. I’ve thrown the doll out now, so don’t worry. I won’t let trash like that taint your eyes again.”
She reached out to take my arm, but I stepped away.
Seeing that I had no intention of forgiving her, she dropped to her knees with a dull thud. Her eyes went red, and tears glistened in them.
“Fred, don’t be like this. I was tricked by Lester before. I’ve only just realized that he’s a complete jerk! I’m sorry, and I know I messed up. I now know that you’re the one who treated me best. Can you give me a chance to make it right? I’ll make sure to love you properly this time.”
“I’ve already been fooled by you once, and you want to do it again? Ever since you harmed me for Lester, there’s been no possibility for us.”
Her voice caught as she continued, “I didn’t mean for this to happen, Fred. I only smeared you because I wanted
us to get back together. Teaching you a lesson was just something that came along with it. I meant well…”
I looked at her coldly. “Sorry, but your so-called love is suffocating. I can’t accept it. Besides, you don’t actually love me. You’re begging to get back together with me because you just want me to help you pay off your debts.”
Sandra flushed with embarrassment at being called out so bluntly. She opened her mouth to say something else, but I sidestepped her and started walking away.
She hurried after me. In her haste, she tripped and fell, scraping her knee. She cried out in pain, tears brimming in her eyes as she looked up at me. “Fred…”
In the past, I would’ve helped her up, held her, and comforted her.
But now, it all just felt like a performance to me.
